The Adoption Assistance and Child Welfare Act of 1980 introduced which concept in child welfare?

The Adoption Assistance and Child Welfare Act of 1980 introduced which concept in child welfare?

• A. Permanency Planning
• B. Deinstitutionalization
• C. Community Mental Health Centers
• D. Managed Care

Answer: (A)

Permanency planning is the concept introduced by the Adoption Assistance and Child Welfare Act of 1980. This act shifted the focus from simply keeping children in foster care to ensuring they reach a permanent, stable outcome within a reasonable time. It required states to create and follow a case plan for each child in foster care, actively pursue a permanent arrangement—such as reunification with family, adoption, or guardianship—and regularly review progress toward that goal. The emphasis is on timely permanence and reducing prolonged foster care, with ongoing efforts and oversight to achieve a lasting family connection for the child. The other options relate to different policy movements: deinstitutionalization and its push for community-based mental health services, and managed care, which concerns financing and coordinating healthcare. They do not reflect what AACWA introduced.

Permanency planning is the concept introduced by the Adoption Assistance and Child Welfare Act of 1980. This act shifted the focus from simply keeping children in foster care to ensuring they reach a permanent, stable outcome within a reasonable time. It required states to create and follow a case plan for each child in foster care, actively pursue a permanent arrangement—such as reunification with family, adoption, or guardianship—and regularly review progress toward that goal. The emphasis is on timely permanence and reducing prolonged foster care, with ongoing efforts and oversight to achieve a lasting family connection for the child.

The other options relate to different policy movements: deinstitutionalization and its push for community-based mental health services, and managed care, which concerns financing and coordinating healthcare. They do not reflect what AACWA introduced.